Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
